The care needs of people with multiple sclerosis (M.S.) can be quite different depending on the damage that has occurred as a result of the disease. In M.S., the myelin—fatty tissue that protects the nerve fibers of the central nervous system and helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses—is damaged or destroyed. As a result, nerves lose their ability to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain.
M.S. symptoms depend on which areas of the central nervous system have been affected. One person may have significant problems with impaired sensation and fatigue. Another person may have problems with vision, balance and coordination, or cognition—problems with memory, judgment or reasoning. One person with M.S. may have no problems walking; another person may be unstable standing and walking or be wheelchair bound.
Symptoms are not only different in different people, but also vary in the same person over time. Unpredictability of M.S. symptoms is characteristic. Many people with M.S. experience periods of exacerbation, when they have acute attacks, also called relapses. Exacerbations are usually followed by remissions, in which improvement is experienced. Other people with M.S. experience a gradual worsening of symptoms and increasing disability over time. The pattern of a person’s M.S. can also change over time.
Management of M.S. symptoms is vital. This requires that both the person with M.S. and family members have good information about the disease itself. Starting one of the medications approved for treatment for M.S. may reduce the frequency of attacks and the onset of disability; however, none cure M.S. Rehabilitation may help individuals to recover lost function and/or to remain as independent as possible with the use of assistive devices. Rehabilitation services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and/or cognitive retraining. Low vision aids for one person may enhance independence; for another, adaptations in the home or work environment may make a positive difference.
A good resource for information about M.S., referral and support and for addressing specific care needs is the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Check out the website of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, http://www.nationalmssociety.org/index.aspx. for a wealth of information or call 1-800-344-4867. Call the M.S. chapter nearest you to find out about their programs.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society publishes a quarterly magazine, Momentum, an excellent resource for both people dealing with M.S. and their families. For example, in the Summer 2008 issue the following care items are discussed: Assistive technology, low-vision aids, online classes for people with M.S., M.S. and intimacy, legal issues and legal planning, and current research on M.S.
